Medomak Valley Land Trust Land Protection and Stewardship Specialist Joan Ray welcomes visitors to Riverbrook Preserve in North Waldoboro. (Alexander Violo photo)
The Medomak Valley Land Trust celebrated the grand opening of its new Riverbrook Preserve in North Waldoboro with a dedication ceremony and a guided hike the evening of Thursday, Sept. 7.
The preserve contains 371 acres of working farm fields, mixed woodlands, grassy floodplains, and frontage on the Medomak River.
Joan Ray, a land protection and stewardship specialist with the land trust, led a dedication ceremony, opening the preserve and thanking the trail crews and everyone who helped make the day possible, before guiding a tour of the preserve’s trails.
According to Ray, the Medomak Valley Land Trust was able to purchase the property thanks to a generous anonymous donation. “I want to thank the anonymous donor who gave us the money to purchase the preserve,” Ray said.
Ray said the land trust purchased the property in 2014 and has spent the last few years building a network of trails for public use.
She said the land trust’s trail crew worked to clear trails, build footbridges, install an informational kiosk, and construct a parking lot to accommodate visitors.
Ray said the preserve features 28 acres of field, which are leased and cultivated by a local farmer.
Ray said public access to the site is allowed on non-motorized vehicles and snowmobiles can utilize a snowmobile trail that crosses the property.
Ray said the preserve currently includes 1.5 miles of trails and the land trust plans to add several more miles of walking trails over the next couple years.
Ray said the land trust’s trails crew works on Wednesday mornings from the spring through the fall, usually working from 9 a.m. to noon. She encouraged those interested in volunteering to contact the land trust at 832-5570.
Riverbrook Preserve includes 7,000 feet of frontage on the Medomak River. (Alexander Violo photo)
Charlie Witherell, a member of the trails crew, thanked the volunteers who worked to open the preserve to the public.
“It’s great and it’s going to get a lot greater. I’m thankful for those who showed up,” Witherell said.
N.C. Hunt Inc. provided highly discounted materials to the land trust to assist with the construction of the kiosk and footbridges.
